Button replacement

ABSTRACT

A button closure replacement system is disclosed, comprising a button replacement portion comprising a button cover defining a button chamber for accommodating a button, and a restriction for retaining the button within the button chamber, wherein the button cover has a fastening material on an outward surface, a button hole insert having a dumbbell shape, the insert comprising a backing disk on one end for passing through a button hole and retaining the insert within the button hole; and a facing disk having a fastening material thereon, and the button cover and facing disk releasably retain each other to close a button closure. Further disclosed is a zipper closure fastening system, comprising first and second zipper covers, each comprising a spring clip having a fastener thereon for fitting over a zipper side, wherein the fasteners of the first and second zipper covers releasably retain each other.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system to replace a button and zipperfly with another fastener such as a hook and loop fastener.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Buttons and zippers are used to fasten pants for children, and have beenused for generations in that regard. Buttons and zippers requirestrength and agility in manipulating the button through the loop, so asto fasten the pants. Zippers on pants for small children are small anddifficult to fasten. Furthermore, buttons may fall off rendering thepants non-wearable for a period while the button is sewn on again.Zippers may bind and become unfastenable, or may close on children'sskin, causing a painful injury.

Prior art means of removing the button and replacing it with ahook-and-loop fastener destroys the button for future use, when it isindeed desirable that the button remain intact for future use.Furthermore, the zipper is difficult to replace and a broken zipperoften results in a need to discard jeans.

There is a need, therefore, for a system for replacing a button with afastener that is easier for children to use, such as a hook and loopfastener that is removable and will permit the pants to return to theoriginal form. There is further a need for a zipper replacement on jeansthat is easy to use and can replace a broken zipper or be usedtemporarily without affecting the zipper.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A button closure replacement system is disclosed, comprising a buttonreplacement portion comprising a button cover defining a button chamberfor accommodating a button, and a restriction for retaining the buttonwithin the button chamber, wherein the button cover has a fasteningmaterial on an outward surface, a button hole insert having a dumbbellshape, the insert comprising a backing disk on one end for passingthrough a button hole and retaining the insert within the button hole;and a facing disk having a fastening material thereon, and the buttoncover and facing disk releasably retain each other to close a buttonclosure.

In a further embodiment, the fastening material is selected from thegroup consisting of hook and loop fastener and magnets. The restrictionmay be an elastic restriction, or a drawstring. The backing disk andfacing disk may be similar in size to the button.

In one embodiment the system further comprises first and second zippercovers, each comprising a clip having a fastener thereon for removableattachment to a zipper side, wherein the fasteners of the first andsecond zipper covers releasably retain each other, and cooperate toclose a zipper closure. The fastening material may be a hook and loopfastener. In one embodiment the clip may be a spring clip or a clasp.

Further disclosed is a zipper closure fastening system, comprising firstand second zipper covers, each comprising a spring clip having afastener thereon for fitting over a zipper side, wherein the fastenersof the first and second zipper covers releasably retain each other, andcooperate to close a zipper closure. In one embodiment the fastener is ahook and loop fastener.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a cut-away view of the button replacement portion, accordingto one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view of the zipper replacement portion, according to oneembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 the button replacement system isdescribed comprising a button replacement portion and a zipperreplacement portion. With reference to FIG. 1 a button replacementportion 2 is shown comprising two parts: the button cover 5 and a buttonhole insert 10. The button cover 5 contains a button chamber 7 and arestriction 8. The chamber 7 is sufficiently large to contain thedesired button 3 to be replaced therein, and fits snugly over the button3.

The restriction 8 permits the button stem 11 to pass therethrough, butis small enough that the button 3 will not easily pass through. In oneembodiment, the material of the button cover 5 is stretchable so as toallow the button 3 (mounted in garment material 4 by a fastener 1 suchas a rivet or screw) to pass through the restriction 8. Once inside thebutton chamber 7, the button 3 remains therein. In another embodiment,the restriction 8 is a similar diameter to the button chamber 7, and therestriction 8 has a drawstring (not shown) or other constrictingfastener so that the button is held within the button chamber 7.

The button chamber 7 is placed over the button 3, and the restriction 8is tightened around the button stem 11 so that the button 3 is heldwithin the button chamber 7. On the outward surface 9 of the buttoncover 5 is affixed a fastening material 18. In one embodiment, thefastening material 18 is a hook and loop fastener such as one side of ahook-and-loop material, either hooks or loops, with the correspondingportion on the button hole insert 10. In another embodimentcomplementary magnets on the button cover 5 and button hole insert 10may also be used.

The button hole insert 10 has a dumbbell shape with a backing disk 12and facing disk 13 on each side, each similar in size to the button inan embodiment, and a stem 14 connecting their centers. The backing disk12 is a similar size to the button it is replacing and fits through thebutton hole 15. The backing disk 12 is inserted through the button hole15 formed through the garment material 16 from the inside such that thefacing disk 13 faces button cover 5.

The facing disk 13 has a corresponding fastening material 17 thereon toengage with the fastening material 18 on the surface 9 of the buttoncover 5. For example, if fastening material 17 on the facing disk 13consists of hooks, then fastening material 18 on the button cover 5would consist of loops, so that the hooks and loops may releasably holdthe corresponding surface. In another embodiment, magnets may be used.

In use, the button cover 5 is slipped over the button 3 by passing thebutton 3 through the restriction 8 such that the cover 5 is reliablyheld on the button 3. The fastening material 17 on the button coversurface 9 faces outward from the button. The button hole insert 10 isremovably affixed to the opposite side of the opening by pushing thebacking disk 12 through the button hole 16. The button hole nowsurrounds the narrow stem 14 between the larger backing disk 12 andfacing disk 13 on either side of the stem 14, and is held in placethere.

With reference to FIG. 2, a zipper cover 20 is shown, comprising aspring clip 21 for fastening over the zipper 23 and a hook and loop 24fastener attached thereto. A zipper cover 26 comprising a spring clip 27having the corresponding fastener 25 to the hook-and-loop fastener onthe zipper cover 20 attached thereto, and is removably attached to theopposite side 28 of the zipper 23. Clip 21 may be a spring clip like alarge paper clip or a clasp. The hook and loop fastener 24, 25 isattached to the clip 21 by adhesive or a mechanical means such as rivetsor other means known in the art.

The system is applicable to many garments which use buttons, includingpants, jackets, and shirts. It permits the buttons to be temporarilyreplaced while the child develops the strength and coordination to closethe buttons him- or herself. It is also useful for the elderly who nolonger have the strength or coordination to close and open the waistclosure of pants.

From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations andmodifications may be effected without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation withrespect to the specific apparatus illustrated herein is intended orshould be inferred. It is intended to cover by the appended claims allsuch modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A button closure replacement system, comprising:a. a button replacement portion comprising; i. a button cover defining abutton chamber for accommodating a button, and a restriction forretaining the button within the button chamber, wherein the button coverhas a fastening material on an outward surface; ii. a button hole inserthaving a dumbbell shape, the insert comprising:
 1. a backing disk on oneend for passing through a button hole and retaining the insert withinthe button hole; and
 2. a facing disk having a fastening materialthereon; b. and the button cover and facing disk releasably retain eachother to close a button closure.
 2. The button closure replacementsystem of claim 1 wherein the fastening material is selected from thegroup consisting of hook and loop fastener and magnets.
 3. The buttonclosure replacement system of claim 1 wherein the restriction is anelastic restriction.
 4. The button closure replacement system of claim 1wherein the restriction is a drawstring.
 5. The button closurereplacement system of claim 1 wherein the backing disk and facing diskare similar in size to the button.
 6. The button closure replacementsystem of claim 1 further comprising first and second zipper covers,each comprising a clip having a fastener thereon for removableattachment to a zipper side, wherein the fasteners of the first andsecond zipper covers releasably retain each other, and cooperate toclose a zipper closure.
 7. The button closure replacement system ofclaim 6 wherein the fastening material is a hook and loop fastener. 8.The button closure replacement system of claim 6 wherein the clip is aspring clip.
 9. The button closure replacement system of claim 6 whereinthe clip is a clasp.
 10. A zipper closure fastening system, comprisingfirst and second zipper covers, each comprising a spring clip having afastener thereon for fitting over a zipper side, wherein the fastenersof the first and second zipper covers releasably retain each other, andcooperate to close a zipper closure.
 11. The zipper closure fasteningsystem of claim 10 wherein the fastener is a hook and loop fastener